Valve plunger



April 14, 1925. 1,533,883.

- G. l.. MILLER VALVE PLUNGER Fi1e d.Feb. 20. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet-2 Ge o'gemller 1-wrl-Nessl-:s E L N1 22 S BY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

v,UNITED 4STATES Pfarr-:NT y oFFicE.

'GEORGE LEROY MILLER, OF SHIKSHINNY, IPENNSYIAlN'Il-k.

VALVE PLUNGER. y

Application filed February 20, 1924. Serial No. 694,101.

.To all whom 'it may conce/mr Be it known that l, Giioiuiii L. MILLER, a citizen of t-lie United States, residing vat Shickshinny, lin the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and .useful Valvev Plunger, of which the following is a specification. n

This vinvention relates to a valve plunger, especially adapted for use in jigs of the type described in my companion appication, Serial Number ($94,100, tiled of even 'date herewith. Jigs of this type are used in separating coal and other substances from waste matter associated therewith, bythe tion is to provide improved means particu larly adapted foruse in a plunger of comparatively large size and ,rectangular in shape. whereby a close. contact is insured with the side walls of the chamber in which it operates, so that leakage is prevented and a high efficiency obtained.

A. further object of the invent-ion is to provide 2an improved arrangen'ient ofl ports throuoh the )luiwer and of the valves cooperating with the same, whereby the flow of water is rendered steadier, land the vol-` ume ot' the flow is increased. i

lith the above and other objects in view. the invention consists in 4various details of construction and combinations of elements which will be more particularly explained in the following detaileddescription, which is to be read in connection with the accom-- panying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form.

ln the drawings: vFigure 1 is a vertical sectional View ofa portion of a jig with my improvedplunger shown in connection therewith.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the upper part ofthe plunger.

vFigure 3 'is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of FigureQ.

AFigure 4 is a side elevation of the plunger l ,I

with a part thereof 'shownin section.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective View showyi ing the relation of the vplunger shoes.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in connection with a con'iprising a" suitable frame 10, in which is supported a` tank 11 containing` a separator box 12, yinto which the coal to be separated is Tintroduced by means of a suitable cliutelli. `The tank also contains a chamber 1st, in which the plunger 15 is adapted` to i reciprocate to, cause a circulation of the water in the tank downwardly through thev chamber 1st, and laterally through a va-lved partition 16, whence` thel water passes upwardly through the inclined perforated bot.- toin 17 ofthe separator box` 12, from which it is discharged laterally and returns `to the upper part ofthe chamber 14 through an vopening 1S cut outof the upper part-of the side wall ofthe cliaiiibevr.y

'lheipluiiger 15 is carried at the lower end of a `pair of spaced pitman bars 19, which are journaled at their upper-ends on eccens tries 20, secured to a shaft Qlijournaled in the franiie 1() directly above the chamber 14, and rotated by a pulley wheel 22, or other suitable means to cause a vertical reciprocation 4ot the plunger 15. VThe vchamber 14 is necessarily of conside 'ableI size, and is ordinarily made of rectangular shape. The plunger is of similar size and shape, and

4includes a .castingin the `form of a rectangular skeleton frame 23, having midway there-` of a transverse double web portion 24 forming a channel, which -is closed at each end by upwardly extending ends 25, forming lsockets in which the lower ends of tlievpit,n man bars 19 are seated. The bars 19 are firmlyv secu-red to the ends 25 by means `of bolts 2G, andthe in ner-facesfof the ends 25 are prefefably foi-ined with spurs 27 which biteinto thevbars 19, which are usually of wood, and i assist `in securing the plunger against longitudinal play with respect to the pitman bars. lhe sides 24 of the transverse double web portion are strengthened by longitudinul web portions 28, which are extended along the sides of the plunger tov form reinforcing ribs. The faces of the plunger at each side of the transverse web 24 is in the form of a rectangular plate 29, integrally connected to the frame 23 by narrow strips 30, which define relatively large openings 31, constituting ports through which the water may pass.

The passage of water through the ports 31 is controlled by check valves 32, one of which is provided for each half of the plunger. Each of the check valves is rectangular in shape, and is mounted at its corners on bolts 33 which are secured to the corners of the frame 23, and are slidable on sleeves 34 which surround the respective bolts. EX- pansile coiled springs 35, surrounding the sleeves 34, urge the valves 32 toward the face of t-he plunger,but permit the valves to open during the upward stroke of the plunger. The valves are provided with centra-l rectangular openings 86 corresponding to the plates 2i', while the solid portions of the valves are adapted to cover the ports 81. The transverse web portions 24 are provided with openii'igs 3T of considerable` size, so as to permit free circulation between opposite ends of the plunger, and to equalize the pressure of the water thereon.

The partition 1G consists of a skeleton Afran'iework and central plate 38, similar to the frame and plate 29 of the plunger, and the passage of water therethrough is controlled by a check valve 39, similar to the valves 32. that during the down stroke of the plunger the valves 32 are closed, while the valve 39 is opened, and during the upward stroke of the plunger the valve 39 closes while the valves 32 open.

lnorder to insure a close engagement of "the sides of the plunger against the walls of the chamber 14, the sides of the plunger are provided with shoes 40, which have the same function as the piston rings on a cylindri cal piston. Each of these shoes 40 is channel shaped., and fits over the edge of the frame 23, and is urged outwardly into engagel'nent with the wall of the chamber by a'bowed leaf spring 41, which is held between the bottom of the channel and the edge of the plunger arm. At the corners of the plunger frame, the ends of the. shoes 40vare rabbeted, as vshown at 42, so as to overlap and to form a seal. which is practically continuous throughout the kperiphery of the plunger. Each spring 41 exerts pressure against both ends of the shoe within which. it isheld, so that the pressure is equalized throughout the length of the shoe.. On account of thev large size of the plunger and the diiiiculty which would otherwise be experienced in assembling' the same within the chamber 14, it is preferable to provide holes 43 through the Thus, it will be understood frame 23 near the edge thereof, and to provide corresponding holes 44 through the. Hanges of the shoes 40. lVhen the plunger yis in active posit-ion, the holes 44 will usually be outside of the holes 43, but in assembling, the shoes may be forced linwardly against the pressure of the springs 41, so that the holes 44 and 43 will be in registry, and pins may be inserted therethrough to hold the shoes in contracted position, thus permitting the plunger to be easily inserted into the. chamber, after which the pins may be withdrawn leaving the plunger in opera-tive position.

The sides of the tank 11 and three sides vof the chamber 14 are usually constructed of wood, while the partition 45, between the chamber 14 and the separator box 12, is usually of metal. A suitable wear plate 46 is, therefore, secured to the wooden sides of but its amplii .the upward stroke, At the beginning' of the down stroke, the valves 32 close just as quickly, and the water is forced through the ports in the partition 16. The engagen'ient of the shoes 40 with the sides of the chamber substantially prevent anyleakage arouudt the sides of the plunger, thus insuring the highest eliiciency. The skeleton structureof vtheV plunger and the partition 16 provides ports, which constitute substantially half of the area ofthe frame, so that the maximum flow of water through the ports is obtained. The plunger, therefore, meets with very little resistance from the inertia of the water, and it is possible, therefore, to operate the plunger rapidly and with comparatively little power, so that a very economical operaltibn of the jig is insured.

Thile l have shown and described specifically the preferred structure by means of which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this is merely for the purpose of illustration, and that the invention is not limited thereto, but that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the salient features of the invention as herein claimed.

flhat is claimed is: y

l. In 'a device of the character described, the combination of a rectangular chamber` a plunger having a head conforming to the sides of the chamber and reciprocable therein, channel shaped shoes embracing t-he sides ot' the plunger and slidably supported thereon, and springs seated between the bottoms of the channels and the sides of the plunger and urging said vshoes into close contact with the sides of the chamber.

2.. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rectangular chamber, a plunger having a head coinpi'orming to the sides of the chamber and reciprocable therein, channel shaped shoes embracing the sides of the plunger and slidably supported thereon, and bowed leafmsprings seated against the sides of the plunger with the ends of the springs engaging 'the bottoms of the channels near the ends thereof, and urging both ends of the respective shoes into close Contact with the sides of the chamber.

8. ,ln a device of the character described, the combination of a plunger having'a rectangular head, channel shaped shoes embracing the sides of the head and slidably supported thereon, springs seated between the bottoms of the channels and the sides of the head and urging said shoes outwardly, each of said shoes having rabbeted ends which overlap the ends oi' the adjacent shoes, so that the plunger forms a substantially continuous contact with the walls of the chamber wit-hin which it operates.

el. ln a device of the character described, the combination. of a rectangular chamber, a plunger having a head conforming to the sides ot the chamber and reciprocable therein, said head having a plurality of holes through each side near its periphery, channel shaped shoes embracing the sides of the plunger and slidably supported thereon and covering said holes, and springs seated between the bottoms of the channels and the sides of the plunger and urging the plunger into close contact with the sides of thel chamber, the sideA iianges oi! said shoes having holes theretln-ough adapted to register with the holes in the head when the shoes are pressed inwardly against the resistance of the springs, whereby pins may be inserted to retain the shoes in that position while the plunger is being assembled.

In a device of the character described, the combination of arectangular chamber, a plunger having a` head conforming to the sides of the chamber and reciprocable therein, said head having a plurality of holes through each side near its periphery, channel shaped shoes embracing the sides of the yplunger and slidably supported thereon and urging both ends of the respective shoes into close contact. with the sides of the chamber, the side flanges of said shoes having holes therethrough. adapted to register with the holes through the head when the shoes are pressed inwardly against the resistance of the springs, whereby pins maybe inserted to retain the shoes in vthat posit-ion while the plunger is being assembled.

6. In a. device of the character described, the combination of a rectangular' chamber, a plunger having a rectangular, head conforming to the sides of the chamber and reciprocable therein, said head being formed by ai skeleton frame with a central plate integrally connected to the rim of the frame by narrow strips leaving ports oi. comparatively large area, and a spring held reciprocatory valve in the shape of a `hollow rectangular plate normally covering said ports.

7. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a rectangular chamber, a plunger' having a head conforming-to the sides of the chamber and formed by a skeleton frame with a central plate integrally connected to the rim of the frame by narrow strips leaving ports of comparatively large area, a. spring held reciprocatory valve in the shape of a hollow rectangular plate normally covering said ports when the plunger is moved in one direction, but adapted to open against the resistance ot the springs when the plunger is moved in the opposite direction, channel shaped shoes uembracing the side edges of saidy frame and slidably supported thereon, and springs seated between the bottoms of the channels and the sides of' the plunger and urging said shoes into close contact with the sides of the chamber.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

GEORGE LEnoY MILL en. 

